NEEC Articles
MPS Racing at the WEC Round 6, France
’08 World Enduro Championship – round 6: Uzerche, France, 26/27.7.2008
Tough weekend in France for MPS Racing Husqvarna
The MPS Racing Husqvarna team were down to just one rider ahead of this weekend’s GP of France as Enduro 1 class rider Daryl Bolter was forced to miss the event due to his troublesome ankle injury. Resulting in Enduro Junior class rider Si Wakely, who claimed his first WEC podium at the recent GP of Wales, being the team’s lone representative the fifth round of the ’08 series turned out to be both an eventful and challenging one.
In complete contrast to the wet GP of Wales the French event took place beneath blazing sunshine and ended with Si scoring points at the end of only the second day’s competition. Riding well during the early stages of the opening day the European Enduro Champion’s fortunes took a turn for the worse shortly before the third timed special test. Falling when in sight of the event’s extreme test the heavy landing sheered the bolts holding the bar mounts to the triple clamps, forcing Si to make some running repairs in the hope of remaining in the event. Disappointingly, unable to make the necessary repairs in time Si was forced to retire from the day.
Determined to make up for his day one disappointments Si finished in a respectable 10th, which lifts him to sixth in the Enduro Junior world championship standings. Although not feeling as comfortable on the dry French special tests as he had on day one, with the exception of one below par special test mid-way through the day he performed consistently to claim his sixth top 10 result of the ’08 WEC series.
The MPS Racing Husqvarna team’s next event is the Crychan Enduro, the third round of the ’08 British Enduro Championship, which takes place in Wales on August 9/10.
Si Wakely: “It was a really simple crash, right before the extreme test, that ended day one. As I fell the bike hit the ground awkwardly and the bolt that holds the bar mounts onto the triple clamps broke. I managed to tie-wrap the bars to the clamps to complete the next extreme test but it took too log to get the other clamps off the training bike so I was out. It was really disappointing because I felt good on the tests.
“Day two was really hard work. The heat made it really difficult and I didn’t feel as good as I did on day one. I finished 10th, which isn’t too bad from 39 finishers. I should have been higher in the results but like I said I just didn’t feel as good as I did on day one.”
2008 World Enduro Championship
Grand Prix of France – Day 2
Enduro Junior class
1. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 1:01:30.19; 2. Oriol Mena (KTM) 1:02:30.03; 3. Yannick Bossi (TM) 1:03:30.83; 4. Mirko Gritti (Beta) 1:03:39.60; 5. Lorenzo Santolino (KTM) 1:03:49.16; 6. Vanni Cominotto (KTM) 1:04:02.99; 7. Jeremy Joly (Sherco) 1:04:29.77; 8. Benoit Fortunato (Husqvarna) 1:05:20.11; 9. Michel Pogna (KTM) 1:05:25.34; 10. Simon Wakely (MPS Racing Husqvarna) 1:05:34.74; 11. Armand Monleon (Yamaha) 1:05:45.06; 12. Sebastien Bozzo (Husqvarna) 1:05:49.69; 13. Oskari Kantonen (KTM) 1:06:02.99; 14. Andrea Beier (KTM) 1:06:17.87; 15. Antoine Basset (Husqvarna) 1:06:26.71; 16. David Gannac (Suzuki) 1:06:30.10; 17. Philip McLaughlin (TM) 1:06:35.29; 18. Pierre Pallut (Husqvarna) 1:06:44,05; 19. Romain Goiffure (Husaberg) 1:07:03.04; 20. Edward Hubner (KTM) 1:07.13.11
MPS Racing at the WEC Round 5, Wales
’08 World Enduro Championship – round 5: Llanidloes, Mid Wales, 19/20.7.2008
Wakely claims maiden WEC podium at GP of Wales
The MPS Racing Husqvarna team had much to celebrate at the end of the Hafren Dirt Bike Club organised GP of Wales as team rider Si Wakely claimed his best ever World Enduro Championship result with a well deserved third place finish in the Enduro Junior class on day one and a fifth pace result on day two. Coming into the event with high hopes of good results Si was one of just 12 EJ class riders to finish the opening day’s competition as heavy rain, difficult special tests, and a demanding course made the event the toughest WEC race of the season so far. Disappointingly for the MPS Racing Husqvarna team Enduro 1 class rider Daryl Bolter was forced to retire from the event on day one due to the ankle injury he sustained at the Welsh Two day Enduro.
Well aware that simply finishing the opening day of the GP of Wales would likely give him a point scoring result, Si Wakely seized his chance to claim his first ever WEC podium and finished day one just 30 seconds behind class winner Oriol Mena from Spain. With each of the three different special tests extremely challenging, the Hafren Forest also proved to be incredibly demanding with just four EJ class riders finishing the day without time penalties. Placing fourth on the first day’s opening special test Si found out just how difficult things were by dropping to 16th in class on test two. Starting the second lap well a mistake on the day’s fifth timed special test saw Si lose well over one-minute to his class rivals and with it his chances of claiming the class win. But with all riders making costly mistakes Si was far from disappointed and maintained his focus during the closing stages of the event to claim a well deserved third place finish – his and the MPS Racing Husqvarna team’s first ever WEC podium result.
On day two competition at the top of the Enduro Junior class was extremely close with Italian Thomas Oldrati claiming the win ahead of Spaniard Oriol Mena. For Si the day started steadily with seventh and ninth place finishes on the opening two tests and continued in a similar way before he upped his pace during the final lap of the event. Finishing fourth in class on each of the special tests during the last lap Si finished fifth, which added to his day one result lifts him to seventh in the Enduro Junior world championship standings, where he now sits just six points behind fourth placed rider Mirco Gritti from Italy.
With Daryl Bolter unable to compete in next weekend’s sixth round of the World Enduro Championship Si will be the MPS Racing Husqvarna team’s lone representative where he will be aiming to return to the podium at the GP of France.
Si Wakely: “The first day was really hard, but I’m so pleased for everyone involved in the MPS Husqvarna team to have finished on the podium. It was enjoyable in a weird way because I knew there weren’t too many Enduro Junior class riders still in the race so I just kept pushing on as hard as I could. The last lap on day one was so difficult – I was almost sick on my helmet I was pushing so hard. Finishing on the podium made it well worth the effort. I’d hoped to finish top three so to be able to do that was great. Mick and the whole MPS team have put so much effort into things this year it was great to be able to repay them for all of their hard work. It would have been nice to have finished on the podium on day two as well but I’m still really pleased with fifth. It was great to have so much home support and I’m really pleased with my results.”
Daryl Bolter: “I knew coming into the event that it would be difficult because of my ankle injury and it was. It was just too difficult not being able to put my right foot on the ground. If the event had been easy it still would have been difficult for me to finish but because the event was hard you needed to be 100 per cent fit. It’s disappointing because I’d been looking forward to the event all season.”
2008 World Enduro Championship
Grand Prix of Wales – Day 1
Enduro Junior class
1. Oriol Mena (KTM) 58:10.53; 2. Robert Kvarnstrom (TM) 1:03:42.15; 3. Simon Wakely (Husqvarna) 1:04:14.34; 4. Oskari Kantonen (KTM) 1:04:54.27; 5. Jeremy Joly (Sherco) 1:05:03.16; 6. Lorenzo Santolino (KTM) 1:09:32.51; 7. Antii Hellsten (Husqvarna) 1:09:52.65; 8. Ollie Moyce (Yamaha) 1:12:17.51; 9. Mirko Gritti (Beta) 1:12:52.18; 10. Edoardo D’Ambrosio (TM) 1:13:16.49;
2008 World Enduro Championship
Grand Prix of Wales – Day 2
Enduro Junior class
1. Thomas Oldrati (KTM) 51:26.97; 2. Oriol Mena (KTM) 52:08.90; 3. Oscar Balletti (Honda) 53:26.20; 4. Jeremy Joly (Sherco) 53:31.91; 5. Simon Wakely (Husqvarna) 54:09.40; 6. Mirko Gritti (Beta) 54:11.38; 7. Antii Hellsten (Husqvarna) 54:19.80; 8. Edoardo D’Ambrosio (TM) 54:54.57; 9. Philip McLaughlin (TM) 55:37.80; 10. Oskari Kantonen (KTM) 55:40.54;
D3 Racing Report, WEC Round 1 Sweden
For the third year running the small town of Ostersund in the North of Sweden organised the first round of the WEC series and the only snow race of the tour. For these conditions the bikes must be fitted with spiked snow tyres and the rider must adopt a new technique for such conditions as deep frozen ruts and soft snow. It’s a very interesting race which not all riders enjoy or can easily adadpt too but it is possible for non scandinavian riders to perform well with a little practice.
Last year Tom did not really enjoy these conditions and this year was no different unfortunatly, on the first few tests he was steady and safe but just a little off the pace as he tried to understand the snow and compromise his riding style, slowly as the day progressed he `was improving and feeling more comfortable and was working hard to maintain a top 10 position, realistically this was the best he could achieve on this day.
On the final MX test he lost control of the bike on the face of a jump, he went over the bars and landed very hard on the frozen ground. The crash had caused some damage to him and he needed hospital inspection and was unable to continue the day. X Rays did not show any broken bones or serious injury but Tom was in such discomfort that he could not start on Sunday either, he now fly’s back to the UK and hopes to be ready for this weekends British Championship race in Scotland.
MPS Racing European Enduro Championship Final Positions
For Bolter the ’07 EEC series ended in the best possible way as he placed his WR125 at the top of the Senior E1 class results on both days. Finishing 10 seconds ahead of his closest championship rival Giuseppe Canova on day one Daryl then finished 26 seconds ahead of Frenchman Pierre Duzellier on day two. Matching Daryl’s winning performance on day one Si Wakely comfortably outpaced all riders in the Junior E2/3 class to claim a well-deserved class win. Finishing 25 seconds ahead of Poland’s Lukasz Kurowski having topped all but one of the opening day’s special tests, Si then finished as runner-up on day two.
With both Daryl and Si starting the ’07 season with the firm goal of winning their respective classes in this year’s European Enduro Championship both riders showed that they had what it took to win this season when they performed well at the championship opener and both finished as runner-up. With the series moving onto Hungary more great results followed as Daryl topped both days in the Senior E1 class while Si finished second both times out, just as he had at round one. The next stop of the series, in Heinola, Finland, saw the two riders continue to perform well with Daryl finishing on the podium on both days in third while Si importantly topped the first day before finishing fourth on day two. At the fourth and final round Daryl claimed top honours in the Senior E1 class to put the finishing touches to his impressive season while Si finished first on day one and second on day two to claim his first EEC title.
At the end of the ’07 EEC series Daryl Bolter placed 14 points ahead of his nearest rival in the Senior Enduro 1 class finishing in front of Italy’s Giuseppe Canova and France’s Pierre Duzellier. From the eight days of competition Daryl claimed three class wins, finished as runner-up three times and placed third twice. In the Junior Enduro 2/3 class Si Wakely finished 16 points clear at the top of the class followed by Poland’s Lukasz Kurowski and Italy’s Maurizio Facchin. During the ’07 EEC series Si claimed two day wins and placed as runner-up five times.
M.P.S Racing 125 rider Gav Houson now fully recovered from his crash in Finland had his best weekend of the year claiming 15th place on both days .
Daryl Bolter: “It’s great to have won a second European Enduro Championship. This one was a lot tougher than the first one. I had to have one of my collarbone plated a week before I left to go to Poland. I hurt my shoulder at the last WEC round and it was either six weeks in a sling or get it plated, so I decided to get it plated.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been as nervous as I was on the first day in Kielce. I knew I had to win the first day so I put quite a lot of pressure on myself. I started well but so to did Giuseppe Canova, my closets championship rival. There was nothing to separate the two of us right up until the third lap. I had a really good final motocross test and Giuseppe crashed, which meant that I didn’t have to push too hard during the final test to claim the day win.
“On the second day I rode much better. I didn’t have any pressure on me and I felt much more confidant than I did on the first day. I finished much further ahead at the end of the second day than I did on the first day, but the most important thing was winning the European championship, which I’m thrilled about.”
Si Wakely: “It’s been a long season but to win a European championship is great. From the first round of the series I knew that I could win but it’s certainly not been easy. I knew coming into the final round that if I rode well and didn’t make any mistakes that I’d be able to win, which thankfully is what I was able to do.
“The first day went perfectly. I won six of the seven special tests and felt good all day. I won the day by 24 seconds, which was good. The second day didn’t go quite as well as I finished second but the most important thing was winning the European championship.”
2007 European Enduro Championship Rnd 4
Grand Prix of Poland – Day 1
Senior E1 class
1. Daryl Bolter (Mucci Racing Husqvarna) 35:34.06; 2. Giuseppe Canova (KTM) 35:43.61; 3. Pierre Duzellier (KTM) 35:50.75; 4. Lukasz Bartos (Yamaha) 36:05.62
Junior E2/E3 class
1. Si Wakely (MPS Racing Husqvarna) 35:18.61; 2. Lukasz Kurowski (KTM) 35:43.07; 3. Maurizio Facchin (Kawasaki) 36:09.42; 4. Vincent Charbonnier (Suzuki) 36:11.74
2007 European Enduro Championship Rnd 4
Grand Prix of Poland – Day 2
Senior E1 class
1. Daryl Bolter (Mucci Racing Husqvarna) 29:53.41; 2. Pierre Duzellier (KTM) 30:19.64; 3. Giovanni Gritti (Honda) 30:28.56; 4. Giuseppe Canova (KTM) 30:31.00
Junior E2/E3
1. Lukasz Kurowski (KTM) 30|:18.48; 2. Si Wakely (MPS Racing Husqvarna) 30:30.61; 3. Maurizio Facchin (Kawasaki) 30:30.84; 4. Vincent Charbonnier (Suzuki) 30:42.74;
Husky Sport and MPS Racing End of Season Report.
.Gav Houson finished his first year competing in enduro by claiming an excellent runner up in Expert E1 and 3rd overall in the expert class
In the vets Mick Seward claimed 4th place overall 1 place ahead of Gavs dad Mark on his 125 Husky .
Marking the end of the five-round ’07 British Enduro Championship the Natterjack Enduro provided plenty of end-of-season drama as a tight and technical enduro test and a spectacular motocross test ensured close racing action during each of the two days of competition. For Bolter it was an event at which he needed to do well. Having been forced to miss the Rhayader Enduro due to a broken collarbone the WR125 mounted rider was well aware that he could afford no mistakes if he was to claim his second E1 BEC title. Starting day one well Daryl performed strongly during each of the six tests and as well as comfortably topping the E1 class he came within less than half a second of beating overall day one winner Paul Edmondson.
Knowing that securing the E1 BEC title was more important than trying to better his day one result Bolter matched speed with consistency and put in another great performance and claimed third overall behind Edmondson and E3 class rider Euan McConnell on day two, as well as claiming the all important E1 class win.
Although claiming sixth overall and finishing as the third placed E2 class rider on day one, MPS Husqvarna’s Si Wakely was a little disappointed that he wasn’t able to finish inside the overall top three at the final round of the BEC series. Fresh from claiming his first European Enduro Championship Si saw a troubled opening enduro test on day one hamper his result despite some impressive times on the sandy motocross test. On day two Si improved his overall result by one position finishing in fifth and just six seconds behind newly crowned overall ’07 BEC winner Tom Sagar.
Daryl Bolter: “Obviously it’s great to win my second Enduro 1 British Enduro Championship on a 125. Having had such a bad season last year with all my injuries I’ve been surprised how quickly I’ve been able to re-find my form. Unfortunately breaking my collarbone and having to miss the Rhayader stopped me from getting a better position in the overall BEC series but considering how well Greg Evans has ridden this year winning the E1 title is a fantastic achievement. In ’06 I had things a lot easier as far as the E1 championship was concerned, but this year Greg has pushed me every step of the way.
“This weekend has gone really well. Greg took a few seconds out of me on the first test, which made me think I was going to have to fight all the way to the end of the event. But I got my head down and things went really well. I started fast and seemed to get faster and faster. I put in some really good enduro tests and at the end of the day I topped the E1 class quite comfortably and was less than half a second behind Paul Edmondson in the overall results.
“On Sunday I was just riding sensibly. I tried to put in a good opening test and then just made sure that I didn’t make any mistakes. I’m well chuffed that I’ve been able to win both a European and British championship in the same season.”
Si Wakely: “The first day didn’t go that well to be honest. I was good on the motocross test, although I fell on the second lap, but what really messed me up was the enduro test. I messed up loads of corners on the first lap and then fell near the end. I lost a lot of time that lap and was way back in the results and had to fight to work my way up the results.
“The second day was better. Maybe it’s because of racing in the final round of the European championship last weekend, or just because it’s the end of the season, but I felt tired. I still rode pretty well on the motocross test. My final enduro test was also quite good so the event ended well.
“Winning the European title is great, as well as having a good British championship season. Everyone involved in the MPS Husqvarna team has worked really hard, I can’t thank them enough.”
2007 Metzeler British Enduro Championship
Natterjack Enduro – day 1
Championship class (overall)
1. Paul Edmondson (Suzuki) 1795.45; 2. Daryl Bolter (Husky Sport Husqvarna) 1796.07; 3. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1802.37; 4. Euan McConnell (TM) 1809.93; 5. Jason Thomas (Suzuki) 1824.83; 6. Si Wakely (MPS Racing Husqvarna) 1838.34; 7. Greg Evans (KTM) 1846.61; 8. Edward Jones (KTM) 1874.91; 9. Ricky Mair (Suzuki) 1886.36; 10. Paul Bolton (Honda) 1891.1
2007 Metzeler British Enduro Championship
Natterjack Enduro – day 2
Championship class (overall)
1. Paul Edmondson (Suzuki) 1715.63; 2. Euan McConnell (TM) 1724.93; 3. Daryl Bolter (Husky Sport Husqvarna) 1743.98; 4. Tom Sagar (KTM) 1752.13; 5. Si Wakely (Husqvarna) 1758.47; 6. Jason Thomas (Suzuki) 1783.18; 7. Greg Evans (KTM) 1804.97; 8. Edward Jones (KTM) 1809.02; 9. Ricky Mair (Suzuki) 1827.84; 10. Robert Jones (Yamaha) 1836.13
Many thanks to everyone who has supported and assisted us – to Johny, Wyn, Alan, Jake, Lisa and Marnie for all their hard work . Plus thanks also to Husky Sport, Motul, Talon, Steve Plain Motorcycles, Sheen Projects, SIS, NTB, MAG , 3 City , White Horse, Cycle Scene, Bert Harkins, MXM Graphics, Gaerne, Michelin Tyres, and X-citing plus all other other support
My Life, Dirt Bikes and The Ryedale Rally,.. by Debbie Bonser
Fast approaching my 41st birthday, my friends think I’m completely bonkers spending my leisure time out on a dirt bike - isn’t it supposed to be a sport for fit young men and boys? I can say hand on heart that no other mothers wait at our school gates for their child to come out kitted out like a “Power Ranger”!!!! James (our son) takes it all in his stride, but the other kids are a little unsure what to think of it all.......
Where did this love affair with dirt bikes start?? With two older brothers, both obsessed with bikes, I grew up with the regularity of a bike in bits in the middle of the kitchen floor, one brother was a speed freak, and the other just wanted to know how it all worked - he later became a mechanic, and a very good and sensible road rider. I can remember my first “long distance” pillion ride at the age of 5 to Manchester airport - I think from then on I was hooked...
Over the years, the words “Don’t you ever let me catch you on a motorbike” were commonplace from Dad - he thought they were too dangerous - they can be, but a heck of alot of fun in the right place though Dad!!!!
In 1992 I married Richard, a keen motorcyclist, and shortly after we married, I decided that I was grown up enough to take the responsibility of riding a motorbike - sorry Dad!
With the assistance of Keith Boyling in Burnley, I passed first time, and became the proud owner of a GPZ500S - then children happened..... All biking was suspended for me for a few years - I’d had too many near misses on the road “Sorry mate I didn’t see you” just wasn’t good enough, especially with the responsibilities of Motherhood....
My Brother Roger (the mechanic) bought my GPZ off me, and I turned to rearing children - at that stage I thought - That’s it, I’ve had my fling with motorbikes now.......
Until.......... Richard came home and said - I’ve been to the Motorcycle Centre in Stockport, and I’ve bought a dirt bike - I’ll go out on Sunday mornings trail riding with the TRF. Ok Love, I’ll have the dinner ready for you when you get back!!!!
Next thing, I was stood on a mountain side in the middle of Shropshire, waiting for a glimpse of him doing his first event - The Long Mynd - I have to say it’s not nearly as much fun “Watching”, as it is “Doing”. He kept saying to me, you should have a go, it’s really good fun, and you don’t have to go fast to get a buzz from it. Then, he turned up with a bike for me to have a go on - I was hooked.....
I cut my teeth on the Strata Florida loop from Llandovery, and riding round the Peak District - if you can do that - you can ride anywhere, Richard assured me..... We were off......
My first rally was the one and only Northumbrian. Brian Eland had arranged the most perfect weather conditions - horizontal rain, and I was chucked in at the deep end. As for other ladies, well Patsy Quick was there, it was her first rally following her big crash in the Dakar, and I think there may have been one or two other girls taking part, but not many.
I was riding a Honda XL 250 degree, which weighed a ton, and felt a bit like a tank to ride - I truly believed that I needed something a bit lighter and more modern - like a mountain bike with an engine in it - so came the Beta Alp 200 - great fun, and it saw me through a few rallies, and a trip round Burgundy in France, after a while, the CRF 230 was introduced to the market, and I swapped the Beta for one of those - brilliant!!! It was on this bike that I really felt like I was competing, and not just taking part in the events - (I’d had a fling with a WR250, which I prefer to forget about).
Everything seemed to click into place for me when I got the CRF - I joined the witchbikes forum set up by Marianne Walford, and got chatting to other ladies involved in dirt biking. Quite a few of us met up for a weekend to do some practice in the Hafren Forest, just before the Patrick James Memorial Rally - it was the first time I had spent time with other girls riding, and it was great. I met Liz Millett, Karen Weaver, Maria, Harriet, Anita, and of course Marianne. Shortly afterwards, I met up with Clare Gwinnett, who, I’d only ever seen from behind when she’d whizz past me, so it was nice to meet her face to face. Clare and I seem to be regularly doing the same rallies, and more recently we have been out trail riding in our area together, and have even done the “Doing the Rounds” for TBM.
My first Ryedale Rally was in 2004, on the Beta, and I was delighted to finish - it was the first ever rally that I had completed - blummin hard - I have the mug (with handle) to show for it - what a result, and the next year on my CRF, I completed it again - getting more and more confident, and being able to deal with the more complex terrain gave me such a buzz. I was so looking forward to the 2006 event, which would be a 2 day’er. I’d found a terrific looking B & B right near to the start, and got us booked in. I spent months looking forward to the event, and had taken part in some of the Welsh rallies, and done OK in those too. Tragically though, a few days before the rally, my Brother Roger was taken ill, and passed away on the 10th June - the saturday of the 2 day event, so we missed it .... for whatever reason, I didn’t get back on my dirtbike for 6 months !
The regs came out for the 2007 Ryedale Rally, and, thanks to the nesting Goshawks, the rally was moved to July - I was determined to get back into gear, and get some practice in, and on a personal level, complete the rally for Roger.
Richard and I sat down and planned our “Dirtbiking Year” - First thing we need to do is get you a proper bike!!!! Here we go again, I thought - KTM have brought out the new 250 - it’s ideal for you, he said. Despite my protestations, I waved goodbye to the CRF, and Julian at Triple D prepped my new “lowered” 250 EXCF - a monster had joined the family.
Flippin eck’ it was like learning to ride a bike again - what a challenge.... After a couple of trail rides round the Peak District, I had a go at a Steve Ireland WOR Race Experience Day, James took his KX65, and whilst the boys went round together, I wrestled with the beast - I hated it, nothing seemed to work at the right time, and I was knackered just trying to control the power - doubt was setting in..... I had to get to grips with it soon, I had the Tarennig Rally to do the week after. What a disaster that turned out to be - I’d completed it the year before on the CRF - tough course, but I’d struggled through, and finished. This time, I just couldn’t get the bike to do what it needed to do, I had a couple of nasty offs, and my nerve went completely at the top of a quarry drop off, and that was it - my dirtbiking days were over. I rode back to the van compiling my ebay ad - one careful lady owner and all that....... put the kettle on and told Richard to go and do the second lap on his own, whilst I had a breakdown with my cuppa. I looked around me, and I wasn’t alone - a few dejected faces looked back at me with the same defeated expression. For some reason, I didn’t take my kit off, and when Richard returned from his second lap, he persuaded me to ride the last lap - at my own pace - just treat it like a trail ride - had I not done that, I don’t think you would have seen me on a bike at the Ryedale.
With the new bike, I was gifted a free day’s training with Ady Smith - so in May, off I went down to Stafford for the day. Poor Ady - what will he make of me??? To my delight, I found Liz Millett at the gates to Ady’s field - she had bought a 250 2 stroke to do her Romanics Enduro on - one of only 4 women to take part I think - very brave lady!! The day went well, and I did listen, and I did learn, and I actually think it made a huge difference to my understanding and respect for the bike.
After a few more trail rides round the Peak District, with fellow lady riders, Clare and Julie Horne, including the Doing the Rounds with Jenny Morgan, Richard and I went off to France - he took part in the Trefle Lozere Enduro, and the week after, we both went trail riding in the Pyrenees with Sport Adventure - now if that didn’t get me ready for the Ryedale Rally, then nothing would - next stop Cropton Forest!!!
On our way up to Pickering, I managed to get through to Radio 2 and speak to Stuart Maconie, we wanted to thank the organisers in advance for the Rally, and also to wish all the riders good luck, especially the girls. Did you hear it?
Sue and Ben at Cropton Forest Lodge welcomed us with open arms - and looked after us throughout our stay for the rally - Ben even took our fuel cans up to the start for us, so we could ride our bikes to the start !!
Weather was perfect, field was a bit boggy, but spirits seemed high all around us. The first day’s riding was excellent - all new terrain for me, and for the first time, I actually felt like the bike was working with me.
One of the funniest moments has to be when Brian Eland walked over to me after he had completed the first loop of puddles - he looked like the monster from the black lagoon, and warned me that the puddles were deep - really!!
I remember beaming at Sue at the end of the first day with delight - I had thoroughly enjoyed it, and the little treat at the end, which turned out to be a sneak preview of what was to come the following day. Whoever put that last long, slipply, nasty, rutted, crappy horrible lane in wants shooting by the way!!!!
After a real treat at the lodge, we even got to jet wash our bikes, and launder our kit, it was on to Day 2 - what superb riding - Richard said he thought it was the best riding he had ever done, and it was certainly the best for me - a really good mix of tricky stuff and long flowing lanes with some of the most spectacular scenery, although I have to say, my favorite was the long uphill leafy lane, with two very nice Marshall’s at the top of it, one of which offered me a swig of Carling Black Label - or was I hallucinating at that point????
It was all over so quickly - my utmost admiration goes to the guys on the big bikes - how on earth they did that course I’ll never know.
The Ryedale Rally has restored my faith in dirtbiking - long may it continue.......